Grade 6 Spring — Rhetorical Devices, Sentence Craft, and Formal Multi-Pass Peer Revision Protocols
Lesson 20 90 min eng.g6.s.lesson_20.rhetoricians_forum_oral_performance

Rhetorician's Forum — oral performance of original argument with rhetorical devices

Skills targeted
Objectives
  • Students present 90-second rhetorical performance of original argument with at least 3 named devices.
  • Students respond to 30-second Q&A on rhetorical choices.
  • Students self-reflect using MG-34 3-2-1 reflection rubric.
Vocabulary
performanceforumaudiencedeliveryQ&Areflection

Lesson plan

Warm-up

5 min

Final breathing + posture moment. Each student stands with their tri-fold display board behind them. Sets up at podium.

Teacher moves
  • Welcome the audience (family, school admin, cross-grade visitors)
  • Review forum protocol: 90-sec performance + 30-sec Q&A per student
  • Affirm: this is a celebration of writing identity
Media
M-6-S-SPK-20-B Chart Physical / non-image

Print-ready order list with student names, presentation order numbers, and topic for each presenter. Audience can follow along. Plus space for audience to write their peer-rubric scores.

Direct instruction

5 min

Welcome to the Rhetorician's Forum. Each student presents their original argument with at least 3 named rhetorical devices applied. 90-second performance. Followed by 30-second audience Q&A on rhetorical choices. After your presentation, complete MG-34 self-reflection 3-2-1. Audience members use a 5-criterion peer-scoring rubric. We celebrate the rhetorical-CHOICE — devices serve audience purpose.

Checks for understanding
  • Confirm: each student knows their order in the presentation list
  • Confirm: tri-fold display board set up; marked script ready
  • Thumbs: I am ready (up) / I need 1 more minute (down)

Guided practice

70 min
Tasks
  • Each student performs 90-second rhetorical performance + responds to 30-sec audience Q&A. ~20 students × 2 minutes = ~40 minutes for performances + transitions. Plus ~30 min for breaks/reset.
    scaffold Performance order list; timer; podium with tri-fold board space; audience seating
  • Audience completes peer-scoring rubric for each performance (5 criteria: opening hook, devices applied + delivery, content coherence, voice/pace, conclusion)
    scaffold 5-criterion peer-scoring rubric (1 per audience member, multiple performances per sheet)
  • After all performances: each student completes MG-34 3-2-1 self-reflection rubric.
    scaffold MG-34 template; quiet reflection space
Media
M-6-S-SPK-20-A Chart
Peer-scoring sheet. 5 criteria per student: (1) OPENING HOOK strong + relevant; (2) DEVICES APPLIED (3+) + delivered wit

Peer-scoring sheet. 5 criteria per student: (1) OPENING HOOK strong + relevant; (2) DEVICES APPLIED (3+) + delivered with device-aware voice/pause/emphasis; (3) CONTENT COHERENT — claim, evidence, warrant clear; (4) VOICE/PACE audience-aware + clear pronunciation + eye contact; (5) CONCLUSION synthesizes or calls to action. Each criterion: 4-3-2-1 scale + comment-line. Print-ready 8.5x11; multiple students per sheet.

M-6-S-SPK-20-C Video Physical / non-image

Optional 90-minute video recording of the full Forum. Captures each student's 90-second performance + Q&A. Used for student portfolios. Single fixed camera at audience level; backup audio recorder. Teacher edits into per-student clips for portfolio distribution.

Formative assessment

8 min
Exit ticket
  • Submit MG-34 3-2-1 self-reflection. 3 strengths in your argument + presentation. 2 revision targets for next time. 1 goal for G7-fall.
scoring Not scored — formative growth data. Teacher reviews for patterns: substance vs. surface issues. Coach toward substance. Saved in student portfolio.

Closure

2 min
Moves
  • Celebrate the term — students have become rhetoricians
  • Preview G7 fall: research process and MLA citation

Homework

Tasks
  • Celebrate. Rest. The arc is complete.

Differentiation

Scaffolds
  • Tri-fold display board for each student (provides anchor and visual aid)
  • Marked script in hand
  • MG-35 Q&A preparation card on podium
Extensions
  • Video-record performance for portfolio
  • Volunteer to MC the forum or introduce other speakers
  • Submit a written reflection on a peer's rhetorical-device application
English Learners
  • Audio-record option instead of live performance
  • Bilingual MG-34 reflection rubric
  • Reduced-target: 60-second performance
Ieps 504s
  • Audio-record option
  • Smaller audience (small-group share)
  • Reduced-target: 60-second performance with 1 device
  • Pre-rehearsed Q&A answers; teacher can deliver Q&A if needed

Teacher notes

Rhetorician's Forum is the culminating event. Invite family + school admin + cross-grade visitors. Audience peer-scoring is part of the assessment-as-learning move. MG-34 3-2-1 self-reflection is the metacognitive close — saved in portfolio. Watch for students who underperform in delivery despite strong writing — coach them privately on register and audience-attunement. Watch for students who over-perform without substantive content — affirm the substance focus. The Forum is a CELEBRATION of writing identity, not a competition. Save the audio recordings for student portfolios.